A4-format

Norwegian Bokmål

Size illustration of paper sizes, including A4.

Etymology

A4 +‎ format, first part is the first letter of the Norwegian alphabet with a number. Last part most likely from Italian formato (“size, dimension (on paper)”), of formare (“to form, create”), from Latin formāre, present active infinitive of formō (“I shape, form”), from fōrma (“form, figure, shape, appearance”) with an unknown descent, perhaps from some Etruscan *morma, connected by some with Ancient Greek μορφή (morphḗ, “shape, form, appearance”), possibly of Pre-Greek origin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑːfiːrəfɔrmɑːt/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːt
• Hyphenation: A‧4‧for‧mat

Noun

A4-format n (definite singular A4-formatet, indefinite plural A4-format or A4-formater, definite plural A4-formata or A4-formatene)

1. a piece of paper in the standard A4 format
   • 1998, Espen Haavardsholm, Italienerinnen, page 14:

     han river ut to pappstykker i A4-format bakerst i to notatblokker

     he tears out two pieces of cardboard in A4 format at the back of two notebooks

   jeg skal lage en plakat i A4-format

   I will make a poster in A4 format

   Synonyms: A4, A4-ark, A4-papir

2. (colloquial) unimaginative, uniform standard
   • 1979 July 17, Dagbladet, page 11:

     foreldregenerasjonen … forelå i A4-format med forknappet småblomstret husmorkjole, små sinte permanentkrøller, nylonskjorte og tøfler

     the parent generation… was available in A4 format with a buttoned small-flowered housewife dress, small angry permanent curls, nylon shirt and slippers

Related terms

• A-format (“A format”)
• A3 (“A3”), A3-ark (“A3 paper”), A3-format (“A3 format”) and A3-papir (“A3 paper”)
• A5 (“A5”), A5-ark (“A5 paper”), A5-format (“A5 format”) and A5-papir (“A5 paper”)

References

• “A4-format” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).
• “A4-format” in Store norske leksikon